The Third Open Letter To Jerry Falwell from Mel White

July 16, 1999

Dear Jerry,

Thank you for responding to my first open letter. In your response
you say,

"A gay minister named Mel White is circulating an 'open letter to
Jerry Falwell' demanding that I stop preaching that homosexuality is
sin ... If I do not comply with his wishes, he then threatens to lead
a 'Gandhi' type movement against me nationally."

I'm sorry that I wasn't clear. Let me try again.

I am not demanding that you stop preaching "homosexuality is
sin."

I hope that one day soon you, too, will understand that homosexual
orientation is just another human characteristic like the shape of
your eyes or the color of your skin. In the meantime, if you must
continue preaching that homosexuality is a sin, that is your right.
We live in the oldest democracy on earth. Our Constitution guarantees
us the right to disagree about the nature of homosexuality. I am not
demanding that you stop sharing your biblical or psychological views
on homosexuality. (In fact, I'm going to respond to your views with
the latest in biblical and psychological research in the next few
open letters.) However, I am demanding that you stop the preposterous
things you are saying about homosexuals.

I am NOT threatening to lead a "Gandhi type movement against you
... "

Quite frankly, our "Gandhi type movement" has begun, but it is not
against you. It is for you. Gandhi and King never marched "against"
anyone. Guided by the "soul force" principles of nonviolence, both
marched to win the minds and hearts of their adversaries.

On October 22-24, 1999, Gary and I are coming to Lynchburg (with
some of our friends and allies). We aren't coming to stage a noisy
protest or to disturb your congregation. We are coming to present to
you and to your people an exhibit of the preposterous charges you
have made against homosexuals over the past decade.

If you can prove your claims, we will admit our error and go our
ways. If you cannot prove your charges against us, we are hoping to
negotiate an end to the false and inflammatory antigay rhetoric that
flows out of Lynchburg and a beginning of a new kind of dialogue
between us.

In your recent letter you also say, "Mel, as you already know, my
rhetoric is not anti-homosexual. My rhetoric is anti-homosexuality
and anti-heterosexual promiscuity. There is a huge difference ... It
is the ancient issue of hating sin and loving the sinner ... ."

Jerry, you may believe that you are against homosexuality (not
homosexuals) and that you love us (but hate our sin). Our evidence
proves it isn't true. The words that follow are your words, taken
from just one of your regular antigay fundraising letters. Read
slowly. Ask yourself, are these words against homosexuality or
against homosexuals? Are they loving words or words that lead to
anger, fear, and hate?

" ... these perverted homosexuals who absolutely hate everything
that you and I and most decent, God-fearing citizens stand for ...
Make no mistake. These deviants seek no less than total control and
influence in society, politics, our schools and in our exercise of
free speech and religious freedom ... " Jerry Falwell

" ... Someone must 'stand in the gap' for America's children.
Someone must not be afraid to say, 'Moral perversion is wrong!' ...
If we do not act now, homosexuals will own America! They want total
political approval and taxpayer money for their perverted political
and social programs ... " Jerry Falwell

" ... Make no mistakes my friend, this is a battle between good
and evil. And the consequences for America are clear: the judgment of
Almighty God on our nation ... If you and I do not speak up now, this
homosexual steamroller will literally crush all decent men, women,
and children who get in its way ... " Jerry Falwell

" ... For those of us who believe in traditional moral values and
refuse to openly embrace homosexuality, it may mean penalties or
fines ... Preachers of the Gospel, like Jerry Falwell, who do not
hesitate to call homosexuality a sin, may be imprisoned in the
not-to-distant future ... " Jerry Falwell

" ... I must have your help if we are to be successful. The small,
but outspoken and financially well-heeled, homosexual political lobby
is a dangerous foe ... They will stop at nothing, including violence,
to secure their goals. I have been a target of their hatred many
times." Jerry Falwell

" ... Homosexuals want to use the power of the federal government
to force this nation to adopt homosexuality as a legitimate lifestyle
and homosexuals as a bonafide minority - which would mean hiring
quotas, affirmative action and ultimately forcing churches to hire
homosexuals on their staff!" Jerry Falwell

" ... It doesn't matter that the America they demand ... is a
sewer of moral filth ... a place of spiritual anarchy ... an
environment that's incredibly dangerous to our children ... a culture
that despises Christian faith and morality ... .As long as I am able,
I will speak out against this wicked, perverse lifestyle." Jerry
Falwell

Jerry, your preposterous charges in this letter aren't even true,
let alone loving. And these untrue and unloving words pour out of
your offices in Lynchburg on an almost daily basis. This week, on
"Listen, America" you slandered James Hormel, our distinguished
Ambassador to Luxembourg, and his partner [as you regularly
slander us all], with comparisons of our loving relationships to
pedophilia and bestiality. And always your false witness concludes
with a request to send money.

Your fundraising letter that I quote above includes the photo* of
twenty-six "openly gay" Clinton appointees. Although the President
had to fill more than five thousand positions, you claim, quite
falsely, that these twenty-six gay and lesbian Americans "...have an
inside track to the massive federal bureaucracy." You claim, again
quite falsely, that they " ... seek no less than total control and
influence in society ... "

[Unable to display image]

You show their faces and list their names. Have you met even one
of these loyal, hardworking, public servants whom you call
"radicals," "perverts," and "deviants?" Without even knowing these
dedicated young men and women, you bear false witness against them.
You accuse them of preposterous crimes against God and against the
nation that they did not (and would not) commit. And your letter
implies clearly that most homosexuals share the same preposterous
goals.

The Ten Commandments say nothing of homosexuality or homosexuals.
But Moses is clear about God's judgment on those who bear false
witness against their neighbor. (Exodus 20:16.)

Jesus says nothing of homosexuality or homosexuals, but he reminds
a religious leader who came to him by night that God still condemns
those who bear false against their neighbor. (Matthew 19:18-19.)

For ten years, we have monitored your anti-homosexual rhetoric. We
have all the evidence needed to prove that you are breaking the Ten
Commandments and the teachings of Jesus in your endless false witness
against God's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered children.

How can we remain silent when your false and inflammatory rhetoric
leads those who hear you to fear and hate us? How can we not protest
when your untrue and unloving words lead to broken families and
wasted lives? How can we stand by while your anti-homosexual campaign
leads directly and indirectly to discrimination, intolerance, and
even death?

Jerry, you must believe these preposterous untruths or you
wouldn't repeat them year-in-and-year-out. That's why we're coming to
Lynchburg, to help you understand who we really are. Meet with us,
Jerry. Hear our stories. Review our evidence.

We do not " ... hate what decent, God-fearing citizens stand for
... " We do not " ... seek total control of society ... nor spiritual
anarchy ... " We do not " ... advocate a culture that despises
Christian faith and morality ... " We do not " ... demand homosexual
quotas or that churches hire homosexuals ... " We do not " ... seek a
society that is a sewer of moral filth ... " We do not " ... promote
an environment dangerous to children...." We do not " ... stoop to
violence nor do we crush all people who get in our way ... "

We are people of faith. We love God, too. We cherish our families.
We honor our nation. We seek a loving society that protects its
children, that is inclusive and tolerant, that seeks liberty and
justice for all.

You can't know the truth about homosexuality, Jerry, until you
know us homosexuals. That's why gay folk and our allies from across
the country are sacrificing time and money to make this journey to
Lynchburg, October 22-24, 1999. We're inviting those twenty-six
public servants you condemned in the letter (above) to join us and to
share their true stories as well.

We are hoping that you and your congregation will provide
hospitality for the weekend. Would you ask families in your church to
house my sisters and brothers for that October 22-24 weekend? We'll
cover all our travel and incidental expenses. All we ask are rooms
for the night and a chance to spend some time with you and your
church families.

On Saturday afternoon, October 23, will you and your people
consider our case, review our evidence, negotiate a solution that
will allow you the freedom to continue preaching that homosexuality
is a sin without making these untrue claims against homosexuals?

On Saturday evening, October 23, will you worship with us in a
candle light service on your church steps or in another location you
prefer?

On Sunday morning, October 24, will you invite us to worship with
you?

After the service, we want to treat our hosts to a Sunday meal in
restaurants and cafes all over Lynchburg. Gary and I invite you and
Macel to share your Sunday meal with us.

This simple request for hospitality is the first step in our
"Gandhi type movement." We are confident that God will use this
weekend together to teach us all new truths.

If you have any questions or suggestions about our plan, email,
fax, or phone me. I'm sure we can work out any details.

Let's make history together. Let's cross the ever-widening gap
between us. Let's show the churches of this country that we can end
the war of words over homosexuality and lovingly seek truth together.
In the meantime, let's get on with the job for which we were created:
"to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God,
(Micah 6:8)."